Cluster lamp-socket.



R. B. BENJAMIN. CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET. APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907.

946,892 Patented Jan 18,1910. 3 SHEETSTSHEET 1.

` .www Y .R. B.' BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOGKBT.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907.

945,892. Patented .131118, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. B. BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907. I

Patented Jan. 18,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"entre s errar ore REUBEN B. BENJAMN, 0F CHICAGG, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNORTOBENJAMIN ELECEPGY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACGRPORATION 0F ILLlINOIS.

CLUSTER- Lazer-sooner.

Patented Jan. 18, info.

Application le November 29, 1967. Serial No. 464,421.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of -Cook and State ofl Illinois, haveinvented new and useful lmprovements in Cluster Lamp-Sockets, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in cluster lamp' sockets, and hasspecial reference to switching means for controlling the lamps carriedby the device.

rlhe prinbipal object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis class having improved means carried by and formin a part of itself,and readily operated, for Fighting or extinguishing the lamps. ln theaccomplishment of this object preferably locate the switch mechanismwithin the body of the device itself, and provide means whereby thisswitch mechanism may be operated by a pull imparted to a cord, chain orequivalent device. The cord, chain or the like may, and usually will,depend fromthe lower portion of the cluster so -that it may be readilygrasped and pulled to switchthe lamps into orou'tpf circuit. d y T n t eaccom an 1n rawings, li re 1 is a view of the Iaisselynblled device,partuf the casing being broken away to expose to view the switchingmechanism, the latter being 1 shown in section; Fig. 2 is a top planview of the hollow insulating base and the switching mechanism containedtherein; Fig. 3 is' a cross sectional view of the same on the line 3-3of Fig. 2, in a plane at right angles with the plane of Fig. 1; Fig. 4.is 'a bottom plan view of the base; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of acontact ring with which the center terminals ofthe lamps enwage wheninserted into the sockets of the devioe; Fig. 6 is a perspective view ofa portion of the upper edge of the hollow base, showing the means bywhichl this base is supported in place; Fig. 6L is an elevational viewof a supporting cap to which the bas/eis removably secured; Fig. 7 1s adet-ail sectional view showing the means whereby the contact ring shown1n Fig. 5 is secured to the base, the section being taken on the line47-7 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a portion of theswitching mechanism, the section being taken onv the line 8-8 ofFig.- 1. Figs. 9 and 10 when placed together form a pulley to which issecured the actuating cord or chain; Fig. 11 is a perspective view ofthe frame which carries the moving parts of the switch; Fig. 12 is; aperspective view of a plate which carries one of the switch. contacts;Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an eccentric follower employed in theswitching mechanism; and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a portion' ofa ring plate which occupies the upper portion of the casing and engagessuitable means on the supporting cap, :whereby thecasing is sustained inplace.

ln the several figures 'of the drawings, in which like referencenumerals indicate the same parts throughout, 15 is a supporting capwhich corresponds to the usual back plate in devices vof this class, andwhich is secured to the ceiling or to the lower end of a pipe or similarconduit and carries the other parts of the device. This cap has thegeneral form of an inverted cup and is formed of sheet metal. Theinsulating base 16 is of general inverted-cone shape, its

upper and larger portion being inserted into ,the 4three lugs 17 passedup through the spaces between the inwardly projecting ribs. rlhesespaces are indicated 20 in Fig. 6a.

These lugs having passed up between the 0 ribs 18,.the base will then berotated to carry the lugs around over the ribs 18 into the positionindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6a, 1n which position these lugs willengage the u wardly extending stops 19 and the base will he held againstfurther rotation in the ca c lphe base 16 is hollow, and locatedin thechambentherein is the switching mechanism to be hereinafter described.yThis base has an opening 21 in the bottom. thereof through whichextends a cord, chain or the like for operating the switch.k The outercasing or body 22 consists of a substantially hemispherical shell and isprovided with the bead 22'd1 in whichis disposed an annular plate 28provided with three inwardly projecting lugs 24. As the ribs 18 in thecap 15 are formed by pressing the material of tliefap' inwardly, theseribs 18 appear upon the exterior of the cap as depressions or grooves,and into these depressions extend the lugs 24 on the ring 23 when thecasing is in place. In securing the casing to the cap the casing isplaced in such a position that the lugs 24 on the ring 23 may slip upinto the downwardly extending and widened portion 25 which leads intothe depression 18, and after the casing has be ^n thrust up asv far aspossible it is then given a slight turn in a right hand direction,whereupon the lugs 24 pass around into the grooves 18. To preventbackward rotation of the casing and consequent detachment of the casingfrom the cap, each of the lugs 24 is provided with a leaf spring 26which is secured in place on the ring 23 over the lug and bears againstthe upper edge of the groove. The casingv 22 carries the lamp-holding-sockets 27, these sockets being insulated from the casing by insulatingrings 28 and connected with a metallic ring 29 which has a number ofdownwardly extending resilient lugs 30. When the casing is put up intoplace these lugs 30 engage a'dished plate 31 which is secured upon thelower side of the base by means of screws 32, 32 passing throughinturned lugs 33, 33 on this dished plate. These screws and the plate 31are electrically connected with one of the terminals of the switch, ashereinafter explained, the other terminal of the switch being connectedto one of the leads so that when the switch blades are in the onposition, electrical connection is made between this lead and the plate31, and consequently between the lead and the sockets 27. To prevent thebase 16 from sliding upward in the cap 15 `when the lcasing is put upinto place the cap is provided with downwardly and inwardly extendinfingers 15a against which the upper si e ofthe base rests. Thes fingersmay be formed of the sheet meta of the cap, as shown in Fig. 1.

The center terminals of the lamps engage a ring contact 34 which extendsaround the base 16 and is provided with a pair of lugs 35, 35 whichextend inwardly and then upwardly through suitable openings in the base,as best shown in Fig. 7. The upper end of each lug 35 is then bent overso as to rest upon a suitable shoulder 36 on the base, whereby the ringcontact 34- is securely held in place on the base without the use ofscrews, bolts or other separate fastening means. This ring 34 is alsoprovided with an inwardly extending lug 37 carrying` a biiuling-screw38. The base is formed with an opening 39 through which a lead may be lbrought and secured to the binding screw 38, electrical connection beingthus established between this lead and the center terminals of thelamps. 1t will be seen that the binding-screws-and switch mechanism arecarried by the base, while the. lamp-holders are carried by the casing.When the casing is put up into' position one of the terminals of each ofthe lamps is brought into electrical communication with one of the leadsand the other terminal of each lamp is electrically connected with oneside of the switch. The other side of the switch being connected withthe other lead, the circuit is completed through. thel switch and lampswhen the switch is in the on position. A casing containing a differentnumber of lamps may be readily substituted without disturbing the baseor switch mechanism.

The movable parts of the switch are supported by a frame 40, shown inperspective in Fig. 11, this frame being secured in place in'the chamberwithin the base by the screws 32, 32 andbeing thereby electricallyconnected with the plate. 31, which, as above explained, is inelectrical communication with the outer contacts of the lamps when thecasing is in place. This frame 40 has bearings 41 and 42 for the ends ofthe spindle or stem 455 of the rot-ary switch mechanism. Surrounding oneend of this stem is a spring 44 secured at oneof its ends to the frame4() in any convenient manner and having its opposite end secured to apulley 45 loosely mounted on the shaft 43. This pulley 45 isconveniently formed of the two sheet metal members 46 and 47 shown inperspective in Figs. 9 and 10. The portion 46 consists of a disk whilethe portion 47 comprises a cupshaped shell having an annular fiange 48and provided with a pair of projecting tongues 49, 49, enteringcorresponding apertures 50, 50 in the disk 46. These projections 49 maybe bent over' upon the place 46 to secure the members 4G and 47together. To the pulley 45 thus formed is secured one end of a cord 51,or, if ireferred, a chain, extending downwardly through the centralopening in the bottom of the base and through a suitable opening 52 inthe casing of the device. A ratchet connection is provided between theshaft 43 and pulley 45, whereby when the ulley is rotated in onedirection under the Influence of the spring 44 the pulley may turnfreely on the shaft, but when the pulley is rotated in the oppositedirection by a aaneen said shaft and disposed so that it will'be engagedby these pawls. Nhcn the pulley is rotated in one direction by thespringit the pawls will pass over the teet-ho the disk; when the pulley isrotated in the 'opposite direction by the unwinding'of the cord whenpulled upon these teeth will be engaged by the pawls and the shaft willturn with' the pulley. The method which I employ for securing'the disk54 on the shaft 43 consists in flattening the shaft at the point whereit is surrounded by the ydisk and slipping over this flattened portion aU-shaped clip 55, and providing the platev 54 with an opening of thesame form as the outer contour of the 'clip so thatthe clip and the diskare (nmpelled to rotate together.

The switch mechanism which is mounted upon the shaft. 43 may be of anyapproved form, preferably of vthesnap type, and I have illustrated awell known and eXtensively used form of such switch. mechanism.

This mechanism comprises a pair of stationary'7 contacts and a rotaryswitch blade adapted to engage and bridge vthese contacts when in the onposition and to beI turned out of engagement therewith when Athe circuitis to be breken. The stationary contact 56 is carried by the frame 40 ofthe switch mechanism, while the other stationary contact- 57 isinsulated from the frame, being carried by a'plate 58 (shown inv perspective in Fig. 12). This platejis secured inA position by screws 59and 60, the screw 60 extending into a plate 61 which is:l arranged uponthe under-side of the base and carries a binding screw 62. An opening 63in the base aiords a passage through. which a lead may be brought to'the binding screw. lVhen the blade 65 is in the f on -position currentis conducted from the Contact 57 through the blade tothe contact 56,thence through the frame 40 and the screws 32, 32 to the plate 31 andthe-outer contacts of the sockets. A

The blade 65 is secured to a barrel 66 which turns on the shaft. In thebarrel 66 is arranged a spring 67 having one of .its ends secured to theshaft 43'and its 'opposite end secured to the barrel, whereby when theshaft 43 is revolved by pulling down the cord this spring 67 is placedunder increased tension and, tends to revolve the switch blade. Securedto the shaft and revolving therewith is an eccentric 66 Surrounded by aplate (shown by itself in F ig. 13) comprising an annular portion 69surrounding the eccentric and a projectlon 70 extending therefromwhichnormally engages one /ot four lugs 71 on the frame 40. Lyingbetween the eccentric and the switch blade, and turning with the blade,is a plate 72 this plate being provided with a projection 73 whichnormally engages the 'projection 70 -the cord, the spring 67 is placedunder increased strain and-at the same time the eccentric is turned inthe ring 69. When the shfaft has made one-'fourth of a revolution,- theblade' is released by the projection 70 on the ring 69 being drawn-inwardly suiiiciently to permit it to pass under the lug 7l. When thusreleased the blade suddenly turns through one-fourth of a revolution.'This revolution of the blade about the shaft carries the ring 69 aroundon the eccentric, thereby causing the projection 70 to move outwardlyinto engagement with the next succeeding lug 71. By this means the bladeis held back while the shaftfis being turned through-a quarter of. arevolution and is then suddenly released, whereby-connection is quicklymade or broken between this blade'. and the stationary contacts withwhich it coperates. YWhen the blade is in a horizontal position itelectrically 'connects the stationary contacts with each other, and whenit has turned to an upright position the connections are broken and theswitch is in the oilE position.

l have illustrated my device -as being. provided with a well knownfornr'of rotary snap switch mechanism, and for the purpose of makingthis specification clearer have-described such'a mechanism, but .desireit to be understood that my invention comprises the use of any form ofswitch meehanism .which may be adapted to be mounted within thebody-portion of a plural lampholding device and to be actuated bypulloperated mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and, desire tosecure lby Letters Patent is:

1. A cluster lamp socket, comprising in combination a hollow insulatingmember provided with an opening in its under side,

`switching means within said member, contacts without said member,means. inclosing said insulating member and provided with lamp-receivingopenings,"means for sustain# ing lamps in said openings in position toengage said contacts. and flexible means extending outside saidincl'osing means for operating said switching means by a pull exertedupon said switching means.

2. ln a cluster lamp socket, a supporting cap, an insulating basedetachably secured to said cap and fornied with a chamber and having' anopening into said chainl'ier in the under side thcreogtl/l a bodydetachably cured to said cap and carrying the lamps and inclt'ising saidbase, switch mechanism in the `chamber of said base, pull-operated meansextending through said opening for actuating said switch mechanism, andmeans for making electrical connection between the lamps and said switchmechanism when the body is .put' into position.

3. In a cluster lamp socket, a supporting cap, an insulating basedetahably carried? thereby, a -body detachably secured tosaid cap andcarrying the lamps, switch m'echan. ism supported by said base, meansfor connecting the lamps with said switch mechanism when the body is inposition, and means extending to the exterior of said body for operatingsaid switch mechanism.

l.. Ina cluster lamp socket, a supporting member, an insulating basetcarried by saidl member, a body supported by said member and removableindependently of said base, said body being arranged to carry the lamps,switch mechanism supported bypsaid base, means for inakingelectricalconnection between the lamps and said switch mechanism when the body isin position, and means extending to the exterior of said body foroperating said switch mechanism.

5. In a cluster lamp socket, an insulating member having a chambertherein and carrying lamp-engaging contacts, rotary snap switchmechanismdisposed in said chamber and having the axis of its rotary partextending across said chamber, andipull actuated means extending to theexterior of the device for operating said switching mechanisin.

6. In a cluster lamp socket, an insulating base, a body surrounding saidbase, means for sustaining said body and base and permitting the removalof either of said parts independently of the other, switch mechanismcarried by said base, lamp-holders carried by said body, and vmeansextending to the exterior of said body .for operating said switchmechanism.

7. A cluster lamp socket comprising a circular body formed with openingsfor the reception of lamps, means for supporting a plurality of lamps inSaid openings, Acontacts Within said body for engaging the tei'-,

minals of said lamps, switching mechanism within said body forcontrolling said lamps,

said switching mechanism comprising a circuit-completing member arrangedto revolve on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said body, and'meansextending outside said body for actuating said switching mechanism.

8. In an incandescent lamp cluster, in combination, a block' having acentral contact chamber, asocket frame mounted on said block and havinga plurality of sockets for lamps, a' key rotatably mounted in saidchamber,contact s projecting into said chamber and leading current tothe lamps, said key having a segment with notches lin the peripherythereof, and a spring engaging said segment and holding said key inditferent positions.

'9. In a cluster lamp socket, an insulating base having a chambertherein, switch mechanism within said chamber, a body surrounding saidbase and arranged to carry the lamps, snap switch mechanism within saidchamber, flexible means extending from said chamber for operating saidswitch mechanism,l and means for making electrical connection betweensaid switch mechanism and the lamps when the body is iii position.

l0. In a cluster socket, the combination of a body arranged to carry thelamps, a hollow base insert'ible thereinto and provided with anaperture, binding terminals carried by said base for the attachment ofleads, switch mechanism within said base, means for making electricalconnection between said switch mechanism, and said lamps when said baseis iii-position in said body, said body having an opening opposite theaperture of the base, and means extending through said opening andaperture into the chamber in said base, for operating said switchmechanism.

l1. In a cluster lamp socket, a body varranged to carry the lamps, abase removable from said body, switch mechanism carried by said base,means for operating said switch mechanism, said body having an openingfor the passage of said switch-operating means,

and intereiigaging means for electrically connecting the lamps with saidswitchl mechanism ,when the base is body.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. Witnesses:

M. L. FARRAR', C. L. HOPKINS.

placed within said

